The Sichuan Blue Whales have etched their name in basketball infamy, suffering a historic 42-game losing streak that shattered CBA and global basketball records as the team teeters on the brink of dissolution.
According to verified court documents from the Chongqing Chengdu Financial Court, Sichuan’s parent company Golden Strength Group faces over 658 million yuan in real estate debt, triggering a January 2026 judgment that demanded repayment of 658 million yuan in principal and interest to the Agricultural Development Bank of China’s Chengdu Wenjiang branch by February 11, 2026.
The team’s on-court collapse mirrored its financial freefall, with a devastating 84-103 home loss to the Jilin Tigers on April 7, 2026, dropping their record to 0-36 for the season and extending their losing streak to 40 games across seasons.
By April 25, 2026, the streak had reached 42 consecutive losses, establishing a new benchmark for futility in professional basketball history as the team averaged over 20 points per game deficit and scored a mere 16 points in one half – the lowest half-point total in CBA history.
The financial crisis has left players and staff unpaid for 28 months, with social security contributions lapsed and the team facing an international basketball registration ban, all although the CBA prepares to implement a harsh new relegation system for the 2026-2027 season where the bottom four teams must fight for survival against NBL contenders.
Despite rumors of a potential takeover by Citic Group reported in November 2025, no verified rescue materialized as the February 11 deadline passed without payment, putting the team’s core assets – including the Wenjiang Golden Strength International Event Center, training facilities, and surrounding land rights – at immediate risk of judicial auction.
The Chongqing Chengdu Financial Court’s public notice confirmed the team’s shares had been frozen, rendering any potential ownership change ineffective without resolving the massive debt burden that continues to suffocate the franchise.
As the Sichuan Blue Whales prepare for their next game against the Guangzhou Loong Lions on May 2, 2026, the franchise faces an existential crisis that extends far beyond the basketball court, with its very survival in the CBA hanging in the balance.
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